The synthengine is not as featured as a CS6x, but the filter are excellent and with some tweaking the internal sounds are great especially the drums, pads and raw waveforms. The FX are of mid-range quality, like the ones inside the REV500. The soundquality is much much higher than on the RM1x, unfortunately not as good as on the Motif. You can make compositions with just the RS and a bunch of Sample-CD's but to get the real thing, add a VA, like a uQ, NordModular or any other synth. Don't forget to get good results, just like with every machine, you have to dig deeper.

The sequencer is better, more intuitive than on the RM1x and some love the concept, some hate it. Make your own picture. (Btw. the RS/RM/QY sequencer are the only ones, who are capable of different phrase-lengths in one sequence. MCx0x can only have one lenght).

Also Yamaha is currently working on a big OS Update that will fix some of the features like:

- Being able to switch between Record modes / Play without stopping the sequencer - Direct access to p - k - Being able to hear tracks in Grid Recording

It is also rumoured that Yamaha might implement new features, like full A3k sampler-engine, or at least multisample-support...and a new expansion board with plug-in cards for 150AN-PLG/100DX-PLG with extra Outputs...a RS7000 with DX7 inside???

Beat that Roland!

Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Wednesday-Oct-30-2002 at 14:28

Robin Hood
a professional user
from Fantasy
writes:

The RS is Both fantastic AND Tragic. It Sounds Fat, but you can't do multisamples, and the file management is crap. The Effects are awesome, but the Synth engine is pretty ugly under the surface. The sequencer is quite well specced and not too hard to use and can be kinda fast, but the count-in Click is horrendously loud and can't be changed. You can map all the pots on the surface to control external midi gear or internal values but there is no way to mount in internal hard drive. You can use the inputs live as inputs to the mix outputs and route these through effects (not filters) but none of the effects parameters refer to real values like seconds or Hz, or dB but arbitrary numbers you need a book to translate to real values...There were some very stupid decisions made with this machine, but at the same time it is kind of a workhorse, and you can make some rocking jams with it. It aint elegant though - under the hood, there is some stupid shit going on. But it's an all in one box with eq on every track and compression effects, with some crazy loop munging shit. Shits all over the Akai boxes though for interactivity and effects, but is not nearly as 'pro' feeling in the details...

Love it/Hate it.....

Dan

Rating: 4 out of 5
posted Thursday-Oct-24-2002 at 10:09

DigitalCold
a part-time user
from USA
writes:

I owned the Rm1x for years, then bought the Rs7000 and learned it inside out and then decided to upgrade to the Motif but was really kinda skepitcal if the sequencer would work the same and if I would move around as quick as I did on the Rs. So, I tried the Motif at G Center and let me tell you, the sequencer on the Rs can not be beat. I missed the damn thing soo much in 6 days that I just ended up buying a new one and forgetin about the Motif! I never used the synth sounds off of the Rs. The drums are great though. Just use external hard and soft synths. The Rs is seriously amazing.

Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Thursday-Oct-17-2002 at 22:02

psi
a professional user
from scotland
writes:

this machine ..with the new os...fantastique ....

ironed out foibles....

yamaha is listening...

ya bloody hoo !

Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Wednesday-Oct-16-2002 at 20:48

H gundaH
a part-time user
writes:

...if only this machine had more that 64 MB of possible ram....i would give it 10 of 5!!!!

AWESOME hardware sequencer; good sampler/synthetizer integrated.

don't be frightened by the hype of the 'groovebox'...this is just a truly worstation, add a synth and you can work pretty well on live acts and do a great job in studio.

i'm absolutely NOT agaist MPCs etc; i choose this one just cause it has 1 thousand features more.